Abstract

Gulf sturgeon are anadromous. They spend the
cooler months (October or November through March
or April) in estuarine or marine habitats, where they
feed on benthic organisms such as isopods, amphipods,
lancets, molluscs, crabs, grass shrimp, and marine
worms (Mason and Clugston, 1993). In the spring, gulf
sturgeon return to their natal river, where the sexually
mature sturgeon spawn, and the population spends
the next 6–8 months there (Odenkirk, 1989; Foster,
1993; Clugston et al., 1995; Fox et al., 2000). The conservation plan detailed in this document
will be used to aid recovery of gulf sturgeon populations
throughout the state of Florida and could be a
model for other gulf states to use. (106pp.)